A scholar of real world places used as bases for anime scenes has compiled this extensive map using Google Maps, complete with comparison photographs in each locality and covering a wide variety of series, and some, such as Haruhi, are covered in great depth.

2channers have been exerting themselves with gusto trying to secure the most convincing yet incongruous juxtaposition of a Strike Witch with a (relatively) everyday scene. Their efforts are reproduced here:

Here we have Crack Graphic presenting the webcomic “Better Girls”, but what I suspect are more compelling to the vast majority of readers are the superbly eccentric character designs displayed. Original, and quite interesting to boot, though by no means prolific.

There’s plenty of coverage of Wonder Festival, and a fairly full digest is already published, but not too many sites actually bothered to prepare a delicious cake figure gallery… except one notable site, of course. Also plenty of /d/ type figures. Intrigued?

Enthusiastic fans have been quick to seize upon this to thrust their favourite characters into the fray, so here are a few of their more successful efforts. Above is a rather finely executed Kenshin, of Rurouni Kenshin, but the obligatory Hatsune Miku is included below.

A tournament of sorts to establish which representations of girls in school swimwear were most accomplished took place recently, providing plenty of exposure to artists, and plenty of fine images to peruse.

The contest was soon decided, and both amongst the images selected for special praise, and those simply contending, there are many fine images worth checking out; I’ve also taken the liberty of introducing my own favourite, so please do take a look, particularly if you are a fan of Louise

An interesting site offering recommendations of mainstream eroge likely to appeal to lady gamers (avoiding titles obsessing over male homosexual antics) comes to my attention; the list makes interesting reading, and is of course of interest to lady erogamers looking to enjoy an engaging story and fine art, as well as many male erogamers too, judging by the list.

I have to torrent up for saya no uta on pirate bay. I HIGHLY suggest playing it, one of the most unique stories I have come across. It is not often you find yourself praying... More

Anonymous commented on May 4, 2009 06:59

I would love to play some of these, but I bet Inganok, Kusarihime and Atlach-Nacha aren't in english and because they're probably quite rare, there are probably no english patches for them either.....
T_T... More

Two very interesting sites looking at the development of eroge in a historical context come to my attention. Firstly, and most strikingly, long time visual novel producer Alicesoft has actually officially authorised the distribution of many of their older titles (1990s) as abandonware; you can find them for direct download or torrent download, collected here. Secondly, there is a compendium of older eroge collected nicely with some CG (see below).

Listen to the beautiful and immaculately trained voices of a variety of seiyuu in various characters, each offering “healing” (scolding, rebuking and reprimanding are more appropriate in some cases, however) words to the listener: such is the free service on offer at oenshimasu.com (応援します – ouen shimasu! – I’ll back you up!).

A rather nice site offering vintage photographic expositions on the Japan of the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods comes to my attention; the prosaically named Old Photos of Japan offers a daily photograph along with some nice explanatory text putting the picture in context.

Many of the photos are extremely tasteful, so whether you’re a lover of Japan, history, photography, or perhaps even scantily dressed young ladies, you may do well to take a look.

Non-Japanese speaking Idolmaster fans may be interested to see this English language (or at least Engrish) Idolmaster site “The Idolmaster MAD World Service”, billing itself as “The Gentleman’s Guide to the Idolmaster”. They serve up regular introductions to the latest MADs doing the rounds on NicoNico Douga, and have plenty of supplementary information and guides, which should be decipherable.

Probably most notably, and usefully (not to mention vexingly, for those of us with incompatible hosts), they have embedded Nico videos, so you can enjoy the latest without having to visit Nico itself, or make an account.